Pocket Yam Slam

Proof that big things sometimes come in small packages, this petite game has all the play value of the original, but it's small enough to fit in a Christmas stocking. Players roll the five dice a maximum of three times per turn, aiming for a flush, a straight, a full house, or another combination, each of which is worth a different level of points. Should you stick with a safe combo in a first or second roll, or risk it all for something better? The choice is yours, and players hone arithmetic and strategy skills, as they play with probability. It's a race to gather limited chips and line up bonuses before your opponents beat you to it. But any way you slice it, Yam Slam is a grand slam! (Blue Orange Games, $7.69)